Recent Stars Elite 14U Girls Tier II News

We are pleased to announce that U19 Forward Akari Kubo has committed to play NCAA hockey for Wesleyan University, starting in the 2019 season.

Akari Kubo is a very skilled, crafty, play-making forward and has been with the DSE Girls program for six years. She is a player who is used in every situation and has been an essential part of the teams she has been apart of. “Akari is one of the most coachable, hardworking, and good teammates I have ever coached. She is a great example for so many of the younger girls. She always does the right thing in her defensive and offensive zones, and is also a role model for the girls off the ice, said Salekin.

Akari adds her name to the ever-growing list of players who have came from the Dallas Stars Elite Girls to college hockey where they will fulfill a dream of playing the sport they love while receiving a great education.

The ever-growing list of young women to commit to play NCAA hockey coming out of the Dallas Stars Elite Girls Association has a new addition. The Dallas Stars Elite Girls program is pleased to announce that 16U Tier I forward Sydney Rarick has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for Lindenwood University Lions, beginning with the 2021-22 season.

Rarick came to the DSE program from the Houston Hurricanes and Bay Area Hounds hockey clubs making the jump from 14U Tier II two years ago and earning her spot on the 14U Tier I last season. "The biggest factor in my development was being able to stay in Dallas this past season with a billet family. I was able to take advantage of everything that the Dallas Stars Elite has to offer, including the power skating sessions with Coach Luke (Chilcott). I dedicated myself to getting better and I feel like it showed. I am thankful for the support my parents, billet family, and teammates gave me the past two seasons while playing for DSE,” said Rarick.

Rarick is the eighth player in the Dallas Stars Elite Girls program with a NCAA Division I commitment, which is a testament to the strong internal development taking place.

“Sydney came to us two years ago and has taken advantage of what our program has to offer. She is another great example of a homegrown Texas Female hockey player who is turning heads all over the Nation. Just a season ago Sydney was playing Tier II hockey in our organization,”said DSE Girls Hockey Director, Mike Salekin. "She is a great example for the younger players of the benefits of working hard to improve your game no matter what level you are playing at in order to flourish at the next level. Her success is also a testament to the organization and the great girls around her who make her a better player. I am very proud of both Sydney and the organization for this achievement. The organization expects there to be more to follow Sydney this next season from Dallas to the NCAA.”

The Dallas Stars and the hockey community in Texas, including TAHA and the DSTHL, have gone above and beyond in supporting the female hockey growth in the state. It all starts with the leadership the Dallas Stars, who have provided the female hockey player living in Texas with incredible opportunities. At a young level, the Stars provide a variety of female specific learn-to-play programs. At the DSE Girls level, the ice-time and player development environment provided for the Dallas Stars Elite Girls program is now as good as anyone in North America. The Stars local hockey leagues have provided the opportunity for all the Elite girls to play against predominantly male teams which have been great for the girls’ development.

Texas hockey has ushered many talented and hard-working young women into notable NCAA Division I and Division III schools. The Dallas Stars Elite are now adding another to that list and are pleased to announce that Rachel Rice, a center for the Dallas Stars Elite U19 Girls Tier 1 team, has committed to play for Nazareth College for the 2019-20 season.

Nazareth College is an NCAA Division III school in Rochester, New York, and are helping to grow the game of Women’s Hockey. The new program hopes to compete for the NCAA Division III National Championship in the upcoming year and beyond.

Rice, who in entering her 11th season playing hockey in Dallas/Ft. Worth and her fourth season playing girls hockey, aspires to be a role model for young girls in the sport and hopes to inspire more young girls to play hockey.

The growth of the Dallas Stars Elite program has helped produce skilled girls and women’s programs with incredible results in major tournaments such as the CCM World Invite, RMD Tournament, CAN/AM, Detroit 2 Nations, and many more. The in-state opportunities for these young women to play against male teams also provides them with an enhanced chance to grow as players and enhance their game.

"Rachel is a tremendous athlete overall who have shown a tenacity and work ethic that is unmatched. She is a great hockey player, student, teammate, and is very coachable. Rachel certainly deserves this as she has worked very hard for it. She is another great example of homegrown Dallas-area female hockey players who have flourished in the local DSE environment. I couldn’t be more proud of Rachel and this accomplishment,” said DSE Girls Hockey Director, Mike Salekin.